ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1915, Page 5

ENGLAND.

COTTON. AN INTERESTING RETURN. IMPORTS FROM NEUTRAL COUNTRIES. Received August 23, 5.5 p.m. London, August 22, The Foreign Oifice issues a return oi cotton imported during last May, June, and JiHy: To Norway, 2032 tons. The normal average imports for these months was 000 tons; normal total, loss exports to enemy countries, 900 tons. Sweden: Imports, 0527 tons; normally 5900 tons, and after deduction 5832 tons.

Denmark: 1530 tons; normally 1617 tons, and after deduction 1599 tons. Holland: 7249 tons; normally 20,820 tons, and after deduction 11,004 tons. The return shows that the importation lias not been substantially greater thn.li at peace time, and a fair deduction is that since May, apart from any other measures, Germany has not received any considerable supply through these countries, who do not anticipate that the declaration of cotton as contraband will involve any great difference in their importations. There is no reason to suppose that American and Egyptian deportcrs will he in a less advantageoaw position in the future than in the past quarter.

NATIONAL SERVICE. APPEAL BY LORD MILNER. (Times ami Sydney Sun Services.) London, August 22. Lord Jlilner, chairman of the National Service League, announces a change in the policy of the league in favor of national service. In a manifesto issued to member* he. states that-the league suspended its propaganda, at the. beginning of the war so as not to embarrass the Government. Since then the whole situation had changed, the unprecedented nature of the struggle demanding a more equitable distribution of the burden of military service. The existence of the British Empire depending upon success, it was necessary to put forth our whole 'strength by establishing universal com'pulsory military service for the period of (he war.